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A STORY ON EGYPTIAN EVENTS BY AN ARMENIAN EYE-WITNESS
Times.am
Feb 11 2011
Armenia
An Armenian student, David Sargyan was in Egypt on the last days. On
February 8 he and and his fellow-students returned to Armenia and
now David tells about his impression in his blog.
So, this information is just the story of eye-witness. Times.am
presents the text completely.
For us, former students of the Cairo University, February the 8th
2011 became the first day of snowy winter, as we smoothly landed
in Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan. We were back to
Armenia, our homeland, which we have left in October 2010 to pursue
our education in Arabic language and Oriental studies in the Cairo
University. Full scholars under the Governmental program between
Armenia and Egypt, we were least expecting to find ourselves in the
middle of developments of historical changes in Egypt, in the middle
of unrest, which will interrupt our studying program too.
Recalling the events in Cairo, which starts on 25th January, at first
it seemed to be just another strike action of several frustrated
workers. However, soon it was clear, that situation is much more
serious. When the first actions of violence and looting took place,
my friends and me were moved to the Armenian Embassy in Egypt,
desperately trying to get message to our relatives in Armenia to
ensure, that we are safe and well.
But before that, we had to protect our building in team with our
neighbors, from the looters and criminals of every kind. We stand
ready to fight with anyone, who will try to break into the building,
and the whole night passed in tense. As oriental studies students, we
had an opportunity, to see the deep respect of Egyptians to the army,
which was amazing. Egyptians admires the army, and that admiration
saved them from the real chaos.
The unprecedented cut off of the communications left us disconnected
for the whole day. Thanks to Embassy's location in the fabulous
neighborhood of Zamalek, which was perhaps the calmest area in the
entire country, we were safely accommodated and had an opportunity
to follow-up the unfolding of events.
Perhaps, the most intriguing was the fact ordinary people were smiling
and were full of joy over the situation. I can imagine how shocking it
can be for dozens of foreigners and tourists, who understand little
of the local mindset, to see, that there are more than 150 deaths,
(according to February 2), thousands are injured, but nobody is really
sad about it. People are simply happy(!).
There are plenty of reasons to be so; President Mubarak, who was a
firm leader since 1981, has promised to adjust 4 chapters of the
National Constitution, and even promised to peacefully step down
in September. It was a victory for Egyptians, and more than half
of protestors wanted exactly that, they did not and do not believe,
that it is possible to step down the President, because for them the
president is as a king, a lot of Egyptians do not think, that the
president has to serve and go, and that the president is just a man,
that has to do his job for a few years.
Soon after the speech, many protesters have turned to be fans of
the President and here is when confrontation between pro and anti
Mubarak crowds took place. I personally know a guy, who was among
the protesters on Tahrir square on 25th and 26th January, and later,
after Mubarak's speech, was fighting on a side of Mubarak's supporters.
Soon, I gave up the idea to find some logic in that guy's thoughts.
In the morning of 2nd February, internet access had been
partially restored and night-time curfew was eased. That day,
Mubarak's supporters performed a remarkable show. They appeared
riding on horses and camels armed with swords, whips, stones,
rocks, and pocket knives, and attacked anti-government protesters
in Tahrir square. Later, regardless of side they were battling for,
Egyptians showed truth care for each other. Pro-Mubarak supporters
took advantage of anti-government protesters crowd on that day, and
were seen to help injured people in the opposite side. The help was
received with understanding and ... a broad smile.
That was a strange revolution. If, in our way, it was unsuccessful,
because the main goal of protesters, President's resignation didn't
eventually happen, but in the views of a lot of Egyptians it was a
great success, simply because the President has delivered a speech
and gave some promises.
From: A. Papazian
Times.am
Feb 11 2011
Armenia
An Armenian student, David Sargyan was in Egypt on the last days. On
February 8 he and and his fellow-students returned to Armenia and
now David tells about his impression in his blog.
So, this information is just the story of eye-witness. Times.am
presents the text completely.
For us, former students of the Cairo University, February the 8th
2011 became the first day of snowy winter, as we smoothly landed
in Zvartnots International Airport of Yerevan. We were back to
Armenia, our homeland, which we have left in October 2010 to pursue
our education in Arabic language and Oriental studies in the Cairo
University. Full scholars under the Governmental program between
Armenia and Egypt, we were least expecting to find ourselves in the
middle of developments of historical changes in Egypt, in the middle
of unrest, which will interrupt our studying program too.
Recalling the events in Cairo, which starts on 25th January, at first
it seemed to be just another strike action of several frustrated
workers. However, soon it was clear, that situation is much more
serious. When the first actions of violence and looting took place,
my friends and me were moved to the Armenian Embassy in Egypt,
desperately trying to get message to our relatives in Armenia to
ensure, that we are safe and well.
But before that, we had to protect our building in team with our
neighbors, from the looters and criminals of every kind. We stand
ready to fight with anyone, who will try to break into the building,
and the whole night passed in tense. As oriental studies students, we
had an opportunity, to see the deep respect of Egyptians to the army,
which was amazing. Egyptians admires the army, and that admiration
saved them from the real chaos.
The unprecedented cut off of the communications left us disconnected
for the whole day. Thanks to Embassy's location in the fabulous
neighborhood of Zamalek, which was perhaps the calmest area in the
entire country, we were safely accommodated and had an opportunity
to follow-up the unfolding of events.
Perhaps, the most intriguing was the fact ordinary people were smiling
and were full of joy over the situation. I can imagine how shocking it
can be for dozens of foreigners and tourists, who understand little
of the local mindset, to see, that there are more than 150 deaths,
(according to February 2), thousands are injured, but nobody is really
sad about it. People are simply happy(!).
There are plenty of reasons to be so; President Mubarak, who was a
firm leader since 1981, has promised to adjust 4 chapters of the
National Constitution, and even promised to peacefully step down
in September. It was a victory for Egyptians, and more than half
of protestors wanted exactly that, they did not and do not believe,
that it is possible to step down the President, because for them the
president is as a king, a lot of Egyptians do not think, that the
president has to serve and go, and that the president is just a man,
that has to do his job for a few years.
Soon after the speech, many protesters have turned to be fans of
the President and here is when confrontation between pro and anti
Mubarak crowds took place. I personally know a guy, who was among
the protesters on Tahrir square on 25th and 26th January, and later,
after Mubarak's speech, was fighting on a side of Mubarak's supporters.
Soon, I gave up the idea to find some logic in that guy's thoughts.
In the morning of 2nd February, internet access had been
partially restored and night-time curfew was eased. That day,
Mubarak's supporters performed a remarkable show. They appeared
riding on horses and camels armed with swords, whips, stones,
rocks, and pocket knives, and attacked anti-government protesters
in Tahrir square. Later, regardless of side they were battling for,
Egyptians showed truth care for each other. Pro-Mubarak supporters
took advantage of anti-government protesters crowd on that day, and
were seen to help injured people in the opposite side. The help was
received with understanding and ... a broad smile.
That was a strange revolution. If, in our way, it was unsuccessful,
because the main goal of protesters, President's resignation didn't
eventually happen, but in the views of a lot of Egyptians it was a
great success, simply because the President has delivered a speech
and gave some promises.
From: A. Papazian